Provide Insurance Services to UK Public Sector

Lot 1 (insurance and associated support services); Lot 2 (insurance brokerage and associated support services); Lot 3 (insurance and associated support services for housing associations and registered providers of social housing).

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions

I.3)Main activity

Other: public procurement

I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

RM 3731 — Insurance Services II.

II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Service category No 27: Other services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Primarily in the UK with some limited requirements overseas.

NUTS code UK

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement

II.1.4)Information on framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators
maximum number of participants to the framework agreement envisaged: 999

Duration of the framework agreement

Duration in months: 48

Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Estimated value excluding VAT: 400 000 000 GBP

II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

Crown Commercial Service (the Authority) is putting in place a Pan Government Collaborative Framework Agreement for use by UK public sector bodies identified at VI.3 (and any future successors to these organisations), which include Central Government Departments and their Arm’s Length Bodies and Agencies, Non Departmental Public Bodies, NHS bodies and Local Authorities.
The Authority is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of insurance, insurance related services and compensation claims handling. The Services have been divided into the following lots:
— Lot 1 (insurance and associated support services);
— Lot 2 (insurance brokerage and associated support services);
— Lot 3 (insurance and associated support services for housing associations and registered providers of social housing);
— Lot 4 (insurance brokerage and associated support services for the Ministry of Defence (MoD)); and
— Lot 5 (compensation claims handling and associated support services).
Potential Providers have the opportunity to submit a Tender for all or any combination of the 5 Lots. However, in order to ensure that the competition on the Framework Agreement is not distorted, Potential Providers are not permitted to submit more than one Tender for each Lot regardless of whether that Tender is submitted in their own name or as part of a Group of Economic Operators. If a Potential Provider submits more than one Tender for the Lot, the Authority is entitled to disqualify one or all of the Tenders submitted by the Potential Provider in respect of the relevant Lot.
Lot 1 (Insurance and Associated Support Services).
Lot 1 is for the provision of insurance services (provided or procured) which includes a range of property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A of Attachment 10 Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 1).
A Potential Provider under Lot 1 may provide the Services in its capacity as a Direct Dealing Insurer, Broker Only Insurer, Managing General Agent or Panel Insurer Broker.
Potential Providers under this Lot may be requested to provide the Services either by the Contracting Authorities or by a Broker who has entered into a Call Off Contract with a Contracting Authority under Lot 2.
When Contracting Authorities utilise the services of a Broker, the Contracting Authorities shall select their Broker first (from Lot 2) before approaching the Potential Providers under this Lot.
Contracting Authorities may only access this Lot directly (i.e. without the use of the Broker) where a Contracting Authority has identified two or more Potential Providers able to meet the requirements set out in the Potential Provider Matrix.
Lot 2 (Insurance Brokerage and Associated Support Services).
Lot 2 is for the provision of insurance brokerage and associated support services which include placing of and advice on a range of insurance policies including but not limited to; property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A and Annex B of Attachment 11, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 2).
The Potential Provider may be required to provide support and / or advice to:
a) commercial insurance programmes; and / or
b) self-insurance programmes.
Associated support services may be offered under Lot 2 and details of these can be found in Annex C of Attachment 11, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 2).
The Potential Provider shall procure insurance quotations on behalf of the Contracting Authorities from Lot 1 Potential Providers only.
Where the Contracting Authority is the Department of Education the Services provided will be in support of its risk protection agreement.
Lot 3 (Insurance and Associated Support Services for Housing Associations and Registered Providers of Social Housing).
Lot 3 is for the provision of insurance (provided or procured) and associated support services for housing associations and registered providers of social housing. This encompasses a range of property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A of Attachment 12, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 3) and associated support services as set out in Annex C of Attachment 12, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 3).
A Potential Provider under Lot 3 may provide the Services in its capacity as a Direct Dealing Insurer, Broker Only Insurer, Managing General Agent or Panel Insurer Broker.
This Lot can only be accessed by housing associations and registered providers of social housing.
Lot 4 (Insurance Brokerage and Associated Support Services for the Ministry of Defence (MoD)).
Lot 4 is for the provision of insurance brokerage and associated support services for the Ministry of Defence (the ‘Contracting Authority’) which includes a range of property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A and Associated Support Services as set out in Annex G of Attachment 13, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 4).
Lot 5 (Compensation Claims Handling and Associated Support Services).
Lot 5 is for the provision of compensation claims handling, which includes claims in respect of employer’s liability, third party motor claims, uninsured loss recovery, public liability and property damage / loss.
The Potential Provider is to provide a number of associated support services, as set out in paragraph 3.2.1 of Attachment 14, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 5).
Should the Department for Education enter into a Call Off Contract under this Lot the Potential Provider will provide Services in support of the Department for Education’s risk protection agreement.
The Authority reserves the right for an electronic auction to be held by a Contracting Authority during Further Competition Procedure among the parties to the Framework Agreement(s) excluding Lot 4 and Lot 5.
Electronic ordering and/or electronic invoicing and/or electronic payment may be used during the period of the Framework Agreement and through the lifespan of any Call Off Agreements.
The Authority considers that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (‘TUPE’) may apply at the Call Off Agreement Stage for Lot 4 and Lot 5. TUPE may apply as the activities are considered to be fundamentally the same.
TUPE is not considered to be an issue in respect of Lot 1, Lot 2 or Lot 3. This is on the basis that there is no organised grouping of employees dedicated to providing these services under the current arrangements. Potential Providers should therefore not take TUPE into account when completing Attachment 19 — Pricing Matrix in respect of Lot 2.
In respect of Lot 4 at present the incumbent Supplier has indicated that TUPE is relevant.
In respect of Lot 5 at present the incumbent Supplier has indicated that TUPE is relevant.
It is the responsibility of Potential Providers to take their own advice and consider whether TUPE is likely to apply in the particular circumstances of the contract and to act accordingly. The Potential Provider is encouraged to carry out its own due diligence exercise. For further information please see paragraph 14, Attachment 1 — Invitation to Tender.
Contracting Authorities may award Letter of Appointment and Call Off Contracts for any of the Services by direct award (i.e. without re-opening competition among Suppliers) (Lots 2, 4 and 5 only), and or by further competition (Lots 1, 2 and 3 only) i.e. with re-opening competition among Suppliers. The procedures that Contracting Authorities use to make a direct contract award and or conduct a further competition (including use of an e-Auction) are set out in Framework Schedule 5 (Call Off Procedure) at Attachment 4.

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes

II.1.8)Lots

This contract is divided into lots: yes
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots

II.1.9)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:

Pan government framework agreement for the provision of insurance and insurance related services for use by Central Government Bodies and UK public sector authorities.
Estimated value excluding VAT: 400 000 000 GBP

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: no

II.2.3)Information about renewals

II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

Information about lots

Lot No: 1 Lot title: Insurance and Associated Services

1)Short description

Lot 1 is for the provision of insurance services (provided or procured) which includes a range of property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A of Attachment 10, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 1).
A Potential Provider under Lot 1 may provide the Services in its capacity as a Direct Dealing Insurer, Broker Only Insurer, Managing General Agent or Panel Insurer Broker.
Potential Providers under this Lot may be requested to provide the Services either by the Contracting Authorities or by a Broker who has entered into a Call Off Contract with a Contracting Authority under Lot 2.
When Contracting Authorities utilise the services of a Broker, the Contracting Authorities shall select their Broker first (from Lot 2) before approaching the Potential Providers under this Lot.
Contracting Authorities may only access this Lot directly (i.e. without the use of the Broker) where a Contracting Authority has identified two or more Potential Providers able to meet the requirements set out in the Potential Provider Matrix.

Lot 2 is for the provision of insurance brokerage and associated support services which include placing of and advice on a range of insurance policies including but not limited to; property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A and Annex B of Attachment 11, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 2).
The Potential Provider may be required to provide support and / or advice to:
a) commercial insurance programmes; and / or
b) self-insurance programmes.
Associated support services may be offered under Lot 2 and details of these can be found in Annex C of Attachment 11, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 2).
The Potential Provider shall procure insurance quotations on behalf of the Contracting Authorities from Lot 1 Potential Providers only.
Where the Contracting Authority is the Department of Education the Services provided will be in support of its risk protection agreement.

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 3 Lot title: Insurance and Associated Support Services for Housing Associations and Registered Providers of Social Housing

1)Short description

Lot 3 is for the provision of insurance (provided and procured) and associated support services for housing associations and registered providers of social housing. This encompasses a range of property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A of Attachment 12, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 3) and associated support services as set out in Annex C of Attachment 12, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 3).
A Potential Provider under Lot 3 may provide the Services in its capacity as a Direct Dealing Insurer, Broker Only Insurer, Managing General Agent or Panel Insurer Broker.
This Lot can only be accessed by housing associations and registered providers of social housing.

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 4 Lot title: Insurance Brokerage and Associated Support Services for the Ministry of Defence

1)Short description

Lot 4 is for the provision of insurance brokerage and associated support services for the Ministry of Defence (the ‘Contracting Authority’) which includes a range of property and construction, liability, motor and travel and personal accident insurance as set out in Annex A and Associated Support Services as set out in Annex G of Attachment 13, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 4).

Lot 5 is for the provision of compensation claims handling, which includes claims in respect of employer’s liability, third party motor claims, uninsured loss recovery, public liability and property damage / loss.
The Potential Provider is to provide a number of associated support services, as set out in paragraph 3.2.1 of Attachment 14, Framework Schedule 2: Services and Key Performance Indicators Part B — Services (Lot 5).
Should the Department for Education enter into a Call Off Contract under this Lot the Potential Provider will provide Services in support of the Department for Education’s risk protection agreement.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

66518300, 79100000

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

Potential Providers will be advised if this is necessary during the procurement. Parent company and/or other guarantees of performance and financial liability may be required by the Authority and/or proposed by Potential Providers if considered appropriate.

III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

No special legal form is required but if a contract is awarded to a Group of Economic Operators, the Authority may require the formation of a legal entity before entering into the Framework Agreement.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: no

III.2)Conditions for participation

III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Potential Providers will be assessed in accordance with — Section 5 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 implementing the Directive on the basis of information provided in response to an Invitation to Tender (‘ITT’).
This procurement will be managed electronically via the Authority’s e-Sourcing Suite. To participate in this procurement, participants must first be registered on the e-Sourcing Suite.

If you have not yet registered on the e-Sourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link ‘Register for CCS eSourcing’. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at:

Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered Potential Provider; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. The Authority will process the email and then enable the Potential Provider to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.
As a user of the e-Sourcing Suite you will have access to Emptoris email messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these emails on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information.

Responses must be published by the date in IV.3.4.
The Potential Provider must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide regulated activities in the UK for Lots 1 to 4 (inclusive).
A full copy of the ITT documentation for this Procurement is also available via The Authorities website from the date of this publication of the contract notice:

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: The Potential Provider will be assessed in accordance with Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, as amended (implementing Title II, Chapter V11, Section 2 of Directive 2004/18/EC), on the basis of information provided in response to an ITT.

The Authority may take into account any of the following information:
(a) A copy of the audited accounts for the most recent two years, if available; or (alternatively):
b) A statement of the turnover, profit & loss account, current liabilities and assets, and cash flow for the most recent year of trading for this organisation; or
c) A statement of the cash flow forecast for the current year and a bank letter outlining the current cash and credit position; or
d) Alternative means of demonstrating financial status if any of the above are not available (e.g. forecast of turnover for the current year and a statement of funding provided by the owners and/or the bank, charity accruals accounts or an alternative means of demonstrating financial status).
Potential Providers must provide assurance, prior to contract award, that they have appropriate Insurances in place as specified within the ITT.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
From 01.10.14, the Potential Provider must be compliant with the new Cyber Essentials controls if bidding for government contracts which involve the handling of sensitive and personal information and the provision of certain technical products and services. The easiest way to demonstrate that the Cyber Essentials requirements are met is to gain the Cyber Essentials certificate and this is also likely to be the cheapest way to demonstrate compliance. The Cyber Essentials Assurance Framework, leading to the award of Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certificates for organisations, has been designed in consultation with SMEs, including the Federation for Small Business, to be ‘light touch’ and achievable at low cost. The two options give organisations a choice over the level of assurance they wish to gain and the cost of doing so. This scheme offers the right balance between providing additional assurance of an organisation’s commitment to implementing Cyber Security to third parties, while retaining a simple and low cost mechanism for doing so. The need to meet the requirements of the Cyber Essentials Scheme will extend to its key Sub-Contractors and the Potential Provider where such key Sub-Contractors are involved, on behalf of the Potential Provider, in the handling of sensitive and personal information and the provision of certain technical products and services. The Potential Provider and any key Sub-Contractors will need to renew their evidence of Cyber Essentials compliance at least annually.
The Supplier may be awarded a place on the Framework Agreement but shall not enter into any Call Off Procedure and / or any Call Off Contracts with the Contracting Authorities until the Supplier is able to demonstrate to the Authority that it meets the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials.

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Open

IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

IV.2)Award criteria

IV.2.1)Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document

IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction

An electronic auction will be used: yes
Additional information about electronic auction: The Authority reserves the right to conduct an electronic auction (for Lots 4 and 5) at the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage of this procurement. In such instances information will be provided to the Potential Providers as part of the ITT documentation.

Potential Providers should note that, in accordance with the UK Government’s policies on transparency, the Authority intends to publish the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document and the text of any Framework Agreement awarded, subject to possible redactions at the discretion of the Authority. The terms of the proposed Framework Agreement will also permit a public sector contracting authority, awarding a contract under this Framework Agreement, to publish the text of that contract, subject to possible redactions at the discretion of the contracting authority. Further information on transparency can be found at:

The Authority expressly reserves the right:
— (i) not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and
— (ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition; and in no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by the Potential Provider.
If the Authority decides to enter into a Framework Agreement with the successful Potential Provider, this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of Potential Providers. Any orders placed under this Framework Agreement will form a separate contract under the scope of this Framework between the Potential Provider and the specific requesting other Contracting Authorities.
The Contracting Authorities utilising the Framework reserve the right to use any electronic portal during the life of the agreement.
The duration referenced in Section II.1.4 is for the placing of orders.
The value provided in Section II.1.4 is only an estimate. We cannot guarantee to Suppliers any business through this Framework Agreement.
Framework Agreements will be concluded with the maximum number of Suppliers for each Lot. This may increase only where two or more Potential Providers have tied scores and are placed in the last position in respect of Lot 2. The Authority will award a Framework Agreement to additional Potential Providers where their Final Score is within 1 % of the original awarded last placed position only. For avoidance of doubt last position for Lot 2 is 15th.
In the event that there is a substantive challenge to the Procurement and such a challenge is confined to any one or more particular Lots, the Authority reserves the right to the extent that it is lawful to do so to conclude a Framework Agreement with the successful Potential Providers in respect of those Lots that have not been challenged.
The Authority wishes to establish a Framework Agreement for use by the following UK public sector bodies (and any future successors to these organisations):
Central Government Departments, Local Government and Public Corporations that can be accessed at the Public Sector Classification Guide:

Police Forces and Special Police Forces in the United Kingdom, and/or Police and Crime Commissioners (as defined by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011) and/or the Police Authorities (as defined in the Police Act 1964, Police Act 1996, Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, Police and Justice Act 2006, Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006), and other relevant legislation for the constituent parts of the United Kingdom, for their respective rights and interests.
Fire and Rescue Services in the United Kingdom.

Scottish Public Bodies.
The framework agreement will be available for use by any Scottish Public Sector Body: the Authority; Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies; offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices; cross-border public authorities within the meaning of section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998; the Scotland Office; the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body; councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (except where they are acting in their capacity as educational authority); Scottish joint fire boards or joint fire and rescue boards; Scottish joint police boards or any successor National Police or Fire Authority; Scottish National Park authorities, bodies registered as social landlords under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish health boards or special health boards, Student Loans Company Limited, Northern Lighthouse Board, further or higher education institutions being fundable bodies within the meaning of section 6 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament, any association of or formed by one or more of the foregoing, bodies financed wholly or mainly by one or more of the foregoing, bodies subject to management supervision by one or more of the foregoing and bodies more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more than half of those individuals, being appointed by one or more of the foregoing.
Scottish Government.

Any corporation established, or a group of individuals appointed to act together, for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character, and
(i) financed wholly or mainly by another contracting authority listed above in this section VI.3 of this notice;
(ii) subject to management supervision by another contracting authority listed above in this section VI.3 of this notice; or
(iii) more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more than half of those individuals, are appointed by another contracting authority listed above in this section VI.3 of this notice
(iv) an association of or formed by one or more of the Contracting Authorities listed above in this section VI.3 of this notice
Entities which are not public sector bodies may also use the Framework Agreements if the Authority is satisfied that:
— such entity is calling-off goods and services directly, solely and exclusively in order to satisfy contractual obligations to one or more public sector bodies, all of which are entitled to use the Framework Agreements on their own account;
— all goods to be called-off by it are to be used directly, solely and exclusively to provide energy at sites occupied by such public sector body(ies); and
— it will pass the benefit of the call-off contract to such public sector body(ies) directly, in full and on a purely ‘pass-through’ basis. Accordingly there must be no mark-up, management fee, service charge or any similar cost solely in relation to the supply of energy imposed on the relevant public sector body(ies), who must be able to benefit from the terms of the Framework Agreements in a like manner and to the same extent as if using the Framework Agreements on its/their own account.
From 2nd April 2014 the Government introduced the new Government Security Classifications (GSC) classification scheme to replace the current Government Protective Marking Scheme (GPMS). A key aspect of this is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All potential Suppliers should make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact on this Requirement. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the new GSC:

Cyber Essentials is mandatory for Central Government Contracts which involve handling personal information and providing certain ICT products and services.
The government is taking steps to further reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. There are 2 levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.
To participate in this Procurement, Potential Providers must be able to demonstrate that you comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials for Services under and in connection with this Procurement.
The Potential Provider may be awarded a place on the Framework Agreement but shall not enter into any Call Off Procedure and / or any Call Off Contracts with Contracting Authorities until they are able to demonstrate to the Authority that they meet the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials for Services under and in connection with this Procurement.

Further detail of the mandatory requirements may be found in PPN 09/14.
Complaints during the procurement process are conducted under the Official Journal for the European Union (OJEU) in line with the Public Contracts Regulations (2015). Our processes are conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner. We are committed to developing constructive relationships with suppliers and are keen to generate maximum competition in all of our procurements to deliver best value and sustainable cost savings for the taxpayer. The outcome of the evaluation process is totally dependent on the competitive strength of the individual bid submissions, regardless of the bidder’s size or place on existing / previous arrangements. We are committed to treating all suppliers fairly and all feedback and complaints are given full and fair consideration. If at any stage we believe that a mistake has been made by us, please be assured that we will rectify it to the extent that we can legally do so. In order to complain you must first be registered on the eSourcing tool for the relevant procurement event. All complaints must be raised via the eSourcing tool messaging facility. If you are still unsatisfied at the outcome of a procurement competition and wish to challenge it, then you should issue legal proceedings under Part 3 chapter 6 (Applications to the Court) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and serve them on the Government Legal Department in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules Part 66 (Crown Proceedings) and its associated Practice Direction. Please note that service by email is subject to prior agreement with the Head of Litigation at the Government Legal Department Solicitor’s Department and is not routinely given.

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: There is no right of appeal in this procurement. If you have a complaint or seek to challenge the outcome, please follow the guidance on procedure within VI.3.

VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained